Al Thiem, a Ballston Spa resident and Iraq War veteran, is promoted to Warrant Officer 3 in the New York Army National Guard

LATHAM, NY (11/15/2018) Albert Thiem, a Ballston Spa resident, has been promoted to Chief Warrant Officer 3 in the New York Army National Guard.

Thiem, a veteran of the Iraq War, has served in the Army National Guard since 1981. He is currently on active duty at Fort Meade, Maryland with the New York National Guard's 173rd Cyber Protection Team.

Thiem was promoted during a Nov. 9 ceremony at Division of Military and Naval Affairs Headquarters.

Warrant Officers are Army technical experts in a variety of fields.

Thiem served in the Vermont Army National Guard from 1981 to 1993 as a chemical specialist sergeant, an Armor officer, and a helicopter pilot. In 1993 he transferred to the New York Army National Guard.

In the New York Army National Guard, Thiem served in a number of aviation-related positions in the 42nd Infantry Division headquarters in Troy, N.Y. He also served as a tank company commander for Company C of the 1st Battalion 101st Cavalry in Hoosick Falls, N.Y.

In 2004/2005 he deployed to Tikrit, Iraq with the 42nd Infantry Division headquarters.

Thiem also served in a number of state response missions to include the 1998 northeast ice storm, Hurricane Irene, Hurricane Sandy and the response to the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks in New York City.

In 2014 Thiem reached his mandatory retirement date as a commissioned officer and transferred to the warrant officer program, serving as an electronics warfare officer in the 42nd Infantry Division and 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team.

He opted to continue to serve instead of retiring because he felt he could still make a contribution, Theim said.

He also served as deputy commander of the 42nd Infantry Division's homeland response force.

hiem is currently assigned to the 173rd Cyber Protection Team, which is a joint New York and New Jersey Army National Guard unit which is focused on protecting American computer networks from attack.